Overview
- Freedom of information returns from more than 380 authorities show at least £70,000 was spent taking down Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses put up during “Operation Raise the Colours,” with the requester saying the true cost is likely higher.
- Medway Council reported nearly £11,600 to remove 727 flags, and a local councillor defended the spending and described the flagging as driven by far‑right agitators.
- Hope not Hate reported that figures linked to the far right, including Andrew Currien (also known as Andy Saxon), helped organise parts of the nationwide campaign.
- FoI data indicated Yorkshire councils recorded more than £30,000 in removal costs, which local reporting noted coincided with a rise in racist incidents in the region.
- Some councils cited public safety risks as the reason for removals, while Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council plans to spend more than £75,000 installing 150 official flags across 82 locations.